&quot;Lady Macbeth is the real driving force behind the murder of Duncan. Discuss the statement and decide whether or not you agree.&quot;

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Introduction

Macbeth Assignment "Lady Macbeth is the real driving force behind the murder of Duncan. Discuss the statement and decide whether or not you agree." Set in 1004 in Scotland. A violent age with lots of wars, written in the James ? era. All unexplained events were blamed on witches, there was a huge fear of them. Lots of women were killed due to being thought to be witches. King James was very obsessed by this issue to kill witches, they were seen as evil. The divine right of king order was the emission in this era, the king was chosen by god. Macbeth took on a decision against this and was punished for this. The message of this play is greed, ambition and the power of a woman. This assignment will look in detail at the murder of King Duncan. It will discuss whether or not Macbeth was totally responsibly for the murder of Duncan. Al-though he committed the murder, Lady Macbeth played a huge importance in the murder. This assignment will show how she was the real driving force behind the murder of Duncan. At the beginning of the play Duncan enters the battle meeting a bleeding captain. ...read more.

Middle

Macbeth then starts to feel uncontrolled with this outrage of becoming king. The supernatural starts to play around with Macbeth's thoughts. The dagger seems to be lending Macbeth to Duncan's chamber, luring him to kill him. Slipping from his reach he believes he's meant to do it, Macbeth:" Is this a dagger which I see before me, The handle toward my hand? Come, let me Clutch thee." Macbeth fells reluctant to commit into killing Duncan, and criticises his manliness and he feels uneasy. Macbeth starts to be out-manoeuvred by Lady Macbeth and gives in to her desires and pressures, we then see Lady Macbeth start to take control. Macbeth does not actually agree to kill Duncan, al-though Lady Macbeth seems to think he has, this is an example of Lady Macbeth's complete control. Macbeth starts to feel uncertain whether or not to kill Duncan, torn by his consciences he does not feel he is doing the right thing. With Duncan being his kinsman and recently rewarding him, Thane of Cawdor, Macbeth feels he can not take Duncan's life for his own desires. With Duncan being a popular king as well, Macbeth can not take the chance of a public rebellion. ...read more.

Conclusion

She says that it was his idea first to kill Duncan. But in fact it was her initial idea, we know this by looking back at the text. But she makes it out to be Macbeth's idea. He can not remember if he did, because of the pressure and nervous tension he was going though. With Lady Macbeth and Macbeth's relationship being so intense, Lady Macbeth picks up on this to push Macbeth further and further. She says he can not love her if he is not to commit the crime, Lady Macbeth makes Macbeth feel bad, which is all part of her plan. Lady Macbeth also uses shocking and intolerable remarks. She makes the point that she knew the joy of being a mother, and would have given that up for Macbeth to be king. This would be the ultimate sacrifice, to kill her own child. Shakespeare uses this remark to shock the audience, it appals them. Overall I believe that Lady Macbeth was the true driving force behind the murder, and Macbeth would not of committed the deed if she had not of pushed him. The fact that she keeps prompting him with rhetorical questions and remorseful remarks shows this. She realises that Macbeth doubt needs to be overcome quickly, and this needs extreme measures if they delay one night, the chance is gone. ...read more.

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She certainly appears to be capable of doing anything to achieve her own ambitions. She shows how callous she can be in Act 1, Scene 7, lines 54-60.4 I think this is proof enough that she is cold-hearted. It is quite clear here that she wouldn't think twice about killing her own child to fulfil her ambitions.

When he hears of Macbeths bravery and courageousness, and how the Thane of Cawdor has deceived him, he decides that he must be executed and Macbeth to replace him. Duncan says 'what he hath lost, noble Macbeth hath won', King Duncan is showing huge respect here for Macbeth.

The three witches tells Macbeth the prophecies, he doesn't really take it seriously and makes himself sound like he doesn't believe it, however, he is surprised and puzzled and like he has already thought about murdering the king and now he is lost in thought with what the witches have just told him.

She keeps on reassuring him that they will succeed in the plan. Lady Macbeth feels no instant guilt after the murder she appears to be strong for her husband's sake when he starts to panic. The witches were used in this play for two reasons.

And, later on in the scene 'As cannons overcharged... Doubly redoubled strokes upon the foe.' This tells the audience that although dismayed, outnumbered and overpowered; they put in more effort to win. Imagery that describes Macbeth is 'Disdaining fortune...Carved out his passage'. This creates the picture of an amazing fighter, drawn sword, covered in blood, the blood steaming from all the heat and killing.

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It is then when she says that she would have killed Duncan herself if he hadn't looked like her father sleeping. Lady Macbeth did not have the courage to kill someone who looked like her father. "Had he not resembled my father as he slept, I had done't," says Lady Macbeth.

wants to be king but he's not as ambitious as Lady Macbeth and doesn't want to have to kill to be king. Lady Macbeth is very self-centred and she casts Macbeths earlier comments aside, taking no notice of his thoughts and opinions.